Retail experts have long sounded the alarm on malls in the US.
But malls are not going extinct, they are merely adapting to a new environment. In fact, many have reported robust occupancy levels and bigger crowds than before the pandemic, according to a recent market analysis from Coresight Research.
Good walkable cities should have appropriate rural transport so you don’t need to drive into town and can take a five dollar train ride with no traffic instead that includes return fare and takes you right to main destination districts.
Seattles ferry network, for example.
We almost have that in Boston. You can drive in and park on the edge of the train network, then take a $2.40 ride anywhere in the system, and it gets you almost everywhere.
Well, when the trains aren’t on fire, anyway.
Seattle ferries: